China economic growth may slow to 7.1% in 2015: Central bank report

China's economic growth could slow to 7.1 percent in 2015 from an expected 7.4 percent this year, held back by a sagging property sector, the central bank said in research report seen by Reuters on Sunday.

Stronger global demand could boost exports, but not by enough to counteract the impact from weakening property investment, according to the report published on the central bank's website, www.pbc.gov.cn.

China's exports are likely to grow 6.9 percent in 2015, quickening from this year's 6.1 percent rise, while import growth is seen accelerating to 5.1 percent in 2015 from this year's 1.9 percent, it said.